Cost of Living in Biel - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,481 (excluding rent), and $3,164 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $4,531 (excluding rent), and $6,375 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.83 CHF 19.44

$14.89 CHF 11.66

$37.24 CHF 29.16

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$112 CHF 87.5

$86.9 CHF 68.0

$622 CHF 487

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.87 CHF 12.42

$12.20 CHF 9.55

$19.52 CHF 15.28

Cappuccino

$6.09 CHF 4.77

$4.78 CHF 3.75

$7.77 CHF 6.09

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 CHF 4.18

$4.96 CHF 3.89

$7.44 CHF 5.83

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.05 CHF 3.96

$3.79 CHF 2.97

$7.58 CHF 5.93

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.68 CHF 6.01

$6.14 CHF 4.81

$8.59 CHF 6.73

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CHF 5.15

$4.78 CHF 3.75

$9.57 CHF 7.49

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.78

$1.90 CHF 1.48

$2.52 CHF 1.97

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 CHF 2.91

$1.47 CHF 1.15

$5.51 CHF 4.31

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 CHF 3.35

$1.90 CHF 1.49

$6.27 CHF 4.91

Eggs

$7.43 CHF 5.81

$4.24 CHF 3.32

$11.90 CHF 9.32

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.58 CHF 23.95

$27.05 CHF 21.18

$67.6 CHF 53.0

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.09 CHF 27.48

$24.45 CHF 19.15

$48.91 CHF 38.29

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.8 CHF 39.75

$28.13 CHF 22.03

$113 CHF 88.1

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 CHF 2.56

$2.43 CHF 1.90

$5.10 CHF 3.99

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 CHF 1.75

$1.56 CHF 1.23

$4.82 CHF 3.77

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 CHF 2.24

$1.81 CHF 1.41

$6.01 CHF 4.71

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 CHF 3.34

$2.48 CHF 1.94

$9.82 CHF 7.69

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 CHF 1.88

$1.21 CHF 0.95

$4.85 CHF 3.79

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 CHF 1.91

$1.84 CHF 1.44

$4.90 CHF 3.84

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CHF 2.10

$2.01 CHF 1.57

$4.40 CHF 3.45

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 CHF 0.69

$0.30 CHF 0.23

$1.95 CHF 1.53

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.20 CHF 8.77

$10.58 CHF 8.28

$12.45 CHF 9.74

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 CHF 9.86

$7.74 CHF 6.06

$32.28 CHF 25.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 CHF 1.82

$0.90 CHF 0.71

$3.64 CHF 2.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 CHF 2.73

$1.64 CHF 1.29

$6.33 CHF 4.96

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.30 CHF 3.37

$3.60 CHF 2.82

$4.79 CHF 3.75

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 CHF 85.7

$78.1 CHF 61.1

$296 CHF 232

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.50 CHF 9.79

$8.75 CHF 6.85

$13.75 CHF 10.77

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.23 CHF 3.31

$2.25 CHF 1.76

$4.52 CHF 3.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$83.8 CHF 65.6

$74.5 CHF 58.3

$93.1 CHF 72.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.14 CHF 1.67

$2.10 CHF 1.64

$2.65 CHF 2.08

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.6K CHF 24.0K

$40.2K CHF 31.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.9K CHF 22.6K

$31.4K CHF 24.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$246 CHF 192

$123 CHF 96.0

$490 CHF 384

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.01 CHF 28.20

$22.09 CHF 17.30

$85.9 CHF 67.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.7 CHF 43.62

$48.62 CHF 38.07

$280 CHF 219

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$116 CHF 90.9

$49.77 CHF 38.97

$162 CHF 127

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$75.2 CHF 58.9

Cinema Ticket

$22.05 CHF 17.26

$20.82 CHF 16.30

$30.63 CHF 23.98

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,857 CHF 2,237

$2,431 CHF 1,904

$3,647 CHF 2,855

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.5K CHF 34.0K

$31.3K CHF 24.5K

$56.4K CHF 44.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 110

$99.9 CHF 78.2

$237 CHF 186

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.28 CHF 36.24

$37.02 CHF 28.99

$173 CHF 135

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 CHF 104

$99.0 CHF 77.5

$235 CHF 184

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 CHF 127

$112 CHF 87.7

$311 CHF 244

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 CHF 998

$1,110 CHF 869

$1,479 CHF 1,158

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,165 CHF 912

$1,002 CHF 785

$1,366 CHF 1,069

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,281 CHF 1,786

$1,588 CHF 1,244

$3,055 CHF 2,392

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 CHF 1,464

$1,496 CHF 1,171

$2,493 CHF 1,952

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K CHF 8,090

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,321 CHF 6,516

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,150 CHF 6,382

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.88

1.25

2.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: April 14, 2026

Biel Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🇪🇺 Europe

Cost of Living in Biel - Frequently Asked Questions

Biel sits in a sweet spot: not as hulking as Zurich or Geneva, yet with solid regional connections and high Swiss reliability. You get a compact city feel, lake access, and infrastructure that supports remote work and longer stays without the frenzy of a mega metropolis. The Cost of Living in Biel, Switzerland is generally more approachable than in the big cities, especially for everyday goods and transit. Housing is practical for a range of budgets, and you can mix in quieter neighborhoods with easy train access to Bern or Neuchatel. The vibe suits travelers who want culture, fresh air, and dependable services. Tip: Start with a short-term stay to map neighborhoods before committing long-term.

Daily life in Biel is approachable for travelers and remote workers. For housing, search in Altstadt for walkability, and in lake-adjacent zones for views, while quieter suburbs offer steadier rents. Weekly markets, bakeries, and international groceries give flexible options for budgets; cooking at home remains a strong saver. Public transport is efficient, with trains to Bern and Neuchatel and a network of bikes and buses. Co-working spaces and cafés with reliable wifi support remote work, meetings, and occasional collaborations. For a quick sense of Biel, Switzerland living cost, compare weekly groceries and transit passes across neighborhoods. Tip: map out transit routes first, then visit a few neighborhoods on foot.

Quality of life in Biel centers on a human scale, safety, public services, and access to nature. Use a simple budgeting framework: separate fixed costs (housing, utilities) from flexible spending (food, leisure), and plan for seasonal shifts in heating and outdoor activities. Neighborhood fit matters: Altstadt for culture and walkability, lakefront areas for outdoors, and quiet residential belts for longer stays. Seasonality brings lake life in summer and cozy cultural events in winter. Practical savings come from cooking at home, buying seasonal produce, and taking advantage of public transport passes. Tip: pick a base with good tram connections and easy access to green spaces to maximize daily quality of life.